A long distance path across north Hampshire

Brenda Parker Remembered

From George Williams, (ex-Chairman of Hampshire Area)

I first met Brenda in 2000 when I joined the RA, it quickly became apparent to me that Brenda was the RA in Hampshire! Not only did she have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the footpaths in Hampshire, but she also realised the “broader view” of the RA’s work, quickly adopting new ideas and policies, and encouraging others to follow suit.

Brenda started to lead walks in 1966, and moved to Hampshire in 1967. Since then she has continued to organise and lead walks, not just for the RA, but also for Hampshire County Council's Guided Walks Programme. She was elected on to the Hampshire Area Council (then called the Wessex Area) in February 1970 and started to be involved with footpath work.

In 1972 Brenda helped to found the North East Hants Group and became their Footpath Secretary and for 35 years Brenda has been representing the RA regarding the route of the South Downs Way through the Meon Valley; three public inquiries later, and just two weeks before her death, the route was agreed…

After stepping in as Area Chair in 1998, she served for five years in this post, helping to establish the North Hampshire Downs Group in Basingstoke (serving as their Footpath Secretary and Access Officer until this year), and to set up two Young Walkers' Groups.

However, the real value of her work has been the inspiration she has shown to others, especially with regard to footpath work. Brenda was to be nominated for Lifetime Honorary Membership of The Ramblers’ Association at the recent General Council.

I don’t think Brenda suffered fools gladly, and perhaps not everyone appreciated her softer side. To illustrate this I’ll finish by giving what is perhaps my fondest memory of her:

Two years ago Brenda and I attended a commemorative walk in memory of Adrian Ritchie. The walk was from Havant to Petersfield. We planned to drive to Petersfield and catch the train to Havant. I intended to take my dog, Josh, on the walk, but, typically, Brenda still insisted on driving. We arrived in Petersfield in good time for the train and had a little while to wait on the platform. Brenda kindly offered to hold Josh’s lead while I visited the Gents. On my return I saw that Brenda and Josh had made good friends – he had his back paws on her knees, his front paws on her shoulders, and was busy licking her glasses clean!

From Janet Davis, (Rights of Way Policy Coordinator at RA central office)

Brenda was one of the elite band of RA footpath workers whose calls staff take with trepidation. This was simply because she knew so much about rights of way law and practice that it was unlikely that we would know the answer to any query that she would pose! She was also very anxious to make sure that knowledge and experience of rights of way was shared as widely as possible, and over the years staff helped with the many training days for footpath workers which Brenda organised and which enthused many others to take up the work. She will be very greatly missed.

From John Trevelyan, (ex-Deputy Director of RA)

Brenda undertook a little-known task for the RA nationally that was as valuable as it must have been tedious. For a considerable number of years she went through the “London Gazette”, in which all notices of public path orders were then published, and kept a record in exercise books, matching notices of confirmation back to those of the making of the order. From those records she compiled what were the only national statistics of the numbers of orders made and confirmed. She also kept card indexes linking dates when notices were published with order-making authorities.

Today the ‘London Gazette’ archive is accessible via the internet, and so it would be possible to check Brenda’s work (and indeed extend it back in time to the first orders made after the 1949 Act introduced the order-making procedure). I have no doubt that it would be found to have been very thorough and accurate.

From Jacquetta Fewster, (a Trustee and former member of RA staff)

When I first started work at the Ramblers’ Association, back in the early 90s, I remember getting a briefing from one of my colleagues about the different Areas in the RA. Of course, all Areas are run by volunteers, of which there are never enough, so most Areas had lots of things they wanted to do but couldn’t. The exception was Hampshire Area. Hampshire it seemed was bursting at the seams with well-trained, highly-motivated footpath volunteers, and the reason, I was told, was Brenda Parker. Brenda headed up the footpath work of the Area. She had organized it brilliantly, and tens of volunteers had been inspired to get involved, thanks to Brenda. Throughout my career at central office, I turned to Brenda many times for help and advice. Her knowledge of the RA and of our footpath work was immense, and she always gave her time and knowledge so generously.

The RA will miss her, and so will I.

From Kate Ashbrook, (Chairman of the Ramblers' Association),

(who has known Brenda since the early 1980s):

Brenda was the life and soul of the RA in Hampshire for decades, working tirelessly and without complaint to win a better deal for walkers throughout the county. It is thanks to her dedication and commitment that so many people can enjoy excellent walking today in Hampshire and that so many volunteers have been inspired to work with us.

 We could do with many more “Brendas” in the RA, and we shall miss her greatly.